The beauty of Siena is that its historic centre is compact and easily explored on foot. However, your hire car will definitely come in handy for visiting this beautiful region’s other many attractions.
Travel back in time to medieval Italy
Piazza del Campo dominates historic Siena and is a great starting point for your visit. This vast open space has been the centre of life in Siena since the 1300s and every year, on the 2nd July and 16th of August, it stages il palio, a thrilling bareback horse race, where riders circle the main piazza three times.
The Campo is lined with cafés, which are great for people-watching, and overlooked by the iconic Torre del Mangia, an 88-metre-high tower which you can climb up – all 400 steps – to be rewarded by breathtaking views of the city and hills beyond.
Close by is the Palazzo Pubblico, the 13th-century town hall where you’ll find the Civic Museum of Siena, which contains Ambrogio Lorenzetti’s famous ‘Allegory of Good and Bad Government’, a series of fresco panels that’s considered one of the great achievements of the Renaissance.
The city’s striking 13th-century cathedral, or Duomo, with its distinctive black and white façade, has a stunningly decorated interior, featuring frescoes by Pinturicchio and carvings by Michelangelo.
Next door is the Santa Maria della Scala, a museum complex housed in a former medieval hospital. Spread over four floors, the museums contain astounding collections of Renaissance art to browse at your leisure.
A shopper’s paradise
For such a small city, Siena has plenty to keep even the most ardent shopper entertained. A vast array of locally crafted products is sold throughout the city –everything from paper and embroidered fabrics to gold jewellery and ceramics.
Most of the shops can be found on its three main pedestrianised shopping streets, the Via di Città, the Via Dei Montanini and the Banchi di Sopra, where you’ll find the likes of Prada, Gucci, Armani, Louis Vuitton and Versace.
For the best of local culinary specialities, don’t miss the chance to stop off at the Antica Drogheria Manganelli, on Via di Città, where they still make their own panforte, a traditional dessert made with honey, hazelnuts, almonds and a secret blend of spices.
Explore the delights of rural Tuscany
With your hire car at the ready you can explore the glorious Tuscan countryside. Less than an hour to the south is Montepulciano, a sparkling jewel of Renaissance art and architecture.
West from here, the hill town of Montalcino has remained practically unchanged over the centuries, with its 13th-century defensive walls and its historical centre dominated by the 14th-century fortress.
Less than half an hour north of Siena is Monteriggioni, a medieval town built on a hill and famous for its amazingly preserved city walls, which can be seen from miles away.
A bit further out is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Gimignano, a spectacular walled village known as the ‘Manhattan of the Middle Ages’ as it used to boast 72 towers, 15 of which still stand today.
It would be a great shame not to visit the beautiful city of Florence, only 70km away and perfect for a short visit. This medieval marvel is famed as the birthplace of the Renaissance and boasts a treasure trove of Renaissance art, including Michelangelo’s ‘David’, in the Galleria dell’Accademia, and da Vinci’s ‘Annunciation’ in the Uffizi Gallery.
Hiring a car in Siena gives you the freedom to explore this delightful corner of southern Tuscany and take in its must-see sights, all at your own pace.
